The Penn's Grove record., 1887-08-06
MISS GRAY
Baltimore, Md.

AS he stood there staring at it, jim.
ME came down stairs, and then Mall
come did feel queer.
She wore a travelling dress, which
had no kinship whatever with the pur-
pie calico. 1t vas a stylish suit of
olive green cancels hair. beautifully
embroidered in silk Of a lighter shade,
and fitting her graceful form to perfec-
tion. A picturesque hat, heavily laden
with plumes, dropped over her face;
her feet were shod in dainty French
boots, and she was just in the act of
drawing on a pair of long, chamois
gloves.
Somehow, all at once, Richie com.
pretended that she was more at home
in this elegant costume than In the
odious calico dresses she had been
wearing.
GOOD morning." she said, with a
slight flush on her cheeks; and then,
after q moments hesitation, she added:
81 have something to say to you, Mr..
Ritchie."
Malcolm followed her into the sitting
room, and closed the door.
II have come to confess" she said,
trying to smile away her elnbarrass.
ment. "Mr. Richie, II have de-
ceived you. 1t was, because 4-of
what you said to MI. Wynne that even
ing. This is not my home at all, l live
in Baltimore.
He leaned against the mantle with a
sense Of complete Generalization.
"Mrs. Goodrich is not my aunt" she
went on, rapidly, ''she was my nurse,
when I was a child, and l have always
called her Aunt Nina. L am quite
fond of her, and l often come here
when 1 am tired of society and city
life. l only arrived here the day before
you did, and, as my trunk was delayed
| had to borrow some OF Aunt Nina's
dresses. Then, after l heard all yoi
said, l made up my mind to-
81 have been a fool, Mald9im cried,
and there was something In his face
that forbade her to triumph over him.
but nothing could be more complete
than your revenge. You have taught
me to love you. l can never be happy
without you, and to think that l should
have thrown away every chance | had
in the worldl"
His face was as pale as death, his
voice quivered in passionate despair.
She had not dreamed that he really
loved her.
"Mr. Ritchiel" she cried. in astonish-
ment. "I-o
"Good-byel" he said, abruptly, hold
ing out TO her a hand that shook like a
leaf. "You are not at all to blame.
1t was my own folly. Forgive me,
Miss Gray. l was a conceited cox
comb, and 1t serves me right"
Unable to control himself, Malcolm
turned quickly, and started for the
door. But he paused ere he had reached
it, as though his strength, both OF mind
and body. had failed him utterly.
Covering his face with his hands, he
| cried in a hoarse and broken voice:
Forgive mel"
Then her serenity vanished all in an
Instant. A beautiful blush overspread
her face, as she held out her hand with
a most angelic smile ESQ Malcolm
thought).
Don't goi" she whispered, softly.
81 will forgive you."
Richie could not believe his own
ears. 1t seemed to him that he heard
only the echo OF his own wish.
"You do not-you cannot mean"
he stammered.
YES, l dc" she answered, demurely.
Don't make me say 1t I'VE again. It's
80 embarrassing"
Then Malcolm caught her in his
arms.
"This is almost too much,n he cried,
passionately. "Oh. my love. my lovel''
Malcolm married Miss Gray Just a
year after that, and Bob Wynne was
tshesf mani